Waingongoro River 150m upstream of SH45

The Waingongoro River rises on the south-eastern slopes of Mt. Taranaki and is one of the longest ring plain rivers. This river is a major trout fishery in Taranaki and is also subjected to water abstractions. This is a lower reach site in intensively developed farmland about 63 kilometres downstream of the National Park boundary at an altitude of 40 metres above sea level.

Macroinvertebrate data for Taranaki shown on LAWA may vary from some data reported elsewhere by the Taranaki Regional Council. This variation is because the level of macroinvertebrate identification used by the TRC has some minor differences from that used by other Councils and LAWA, affecting the taxonomic richness and % EPT taxa scores. Taranaki Regional Council also uses Macroinvertebrate Community Index (MCI) scores which have been modified to reflect the conditions experienced in Taranaki, while the scores shown here are based on the National MCI scores. For more details, the full state of the environment report is available at https://www.trc.govt.nz/council/plans-and-reports/environmental/environmental-monitoring-technical-reports/

Ecology

Ecological data for this site

Can I trust this data?

This dashboard shows the results from macroinvertebrate sampling at this site. It displays three ecological indicators: macroinvertebrate community index, taxonomic richness and percent EPT.

For sites where State is 'N/A' or Trend is 'Not Assessed', there are not enough data to calculate a State and/or Trend result. Click on an indicator to see the available historical data.

MCI

5 year median: {{medians.MciMedian}}

State

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Trend

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The Macroinvertebrate Community Index uses aquatic macroinvertebrates to assess the health of streams in New Zealand.

MCI sample history at this site

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MCI for Waingongoro River 150m upstream of SH45

MCI score

What do the icons mean?

EXCELLENT

MCI score of more than 119. Streams in excellent ecological condition. Indicative of excellent water quality and/or habitat conditions.

GOOD

MCI between 100 and 119. Streams in good ecological condition. Indicative of good water quality and/or habitat conditions.

FAIR

MCI between 80 and 99. Streams in fair ecological condition. Indicative of only fair water quality and/or habitat condition.

Taxonomic richness is the number of different taxa present in an ecological community identified to the best possible level.

Taxa richness history at this site

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Taxa richness for Waingongoro River 150m upstream of SH45

Number of taxa

Percent EPT richness

The median of the last 5 years of data

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EPT are macroinvertebrates that are sensitive to water pollution. These are Ephemeroptera (mayfly), Plecoptera (stonefly) and Trichoptera (caddisfly).

EPT history at this site

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Percent EPT richness for Waingongoro River 150m upstream of SH45

EPT %

Can I trust this data?

The Cawthron Institute has worked alongside regional councils to verify the processes and methods used for macroinvertebrate data collection, processing of the data in the laboratory, quality control in the field and laboratory and the statistical analysis and interpretation of the results presented.

Macroinvertebrates are sampled at this site as part of council's stream health monitoring programme, as recommended by proposed national guidelines.

Sampling - Frequency

Macroinvertebrate sampling is done annually or more frequently at this site as recommended by proposed national guidelines. Therefore, data shown here follow current best practice guidelines.

Sampling - Protocols

This site is a hard-bottomed site and appropriate sampling protocols have been applied. Data shown here have been collected using current best-practice.

Sampling - Habitat

Macroinvertebrate sampling is done in riffle habitat at this site. Data shown here are therefore following best practice.

Sampling - Stand-down period

Macroinvertebrate samples are collected within the first two weeks after a flood greater than three times the median flow at this site. Proposed national guidelines suggest a minimum of two weeks 'stand-down' period after a flood greater than three times the median flow. Therefore, data shown here is not following best practice and conclusions based on this data need to be treated with caution.

Processing - Protocol

Samples at this site have been processed following sampling protocol P1 (semi-quantitative - coded abundance). Data shown here is not following best practice, but are still robust.

Quality Control - Field

Field data collected at this site had no quality control applied to it.

Quality Control - Lab

Data processed at this site has had one of the three Laboratory Quality Control Protocols (i.e., QC1, QC2,Q C3) applied. Data shown here is more robust than data with no laboratory QC applied.